Saw the movie and liked it kinda halfway, thinking it overdid the self-righteousness of the author who messed up his father's work by criticizing theSaw the movie and liked it kinda halfway, thinking it overdid the self-righteousness of the author who messed up his father's work by criticizing the Vietnam war during an invited appearance at a dedication service, then showed off his knowledge of first-year Italian by querying joggers about the location of the tomb of Constantine's mother, when he could have simply looked at a map. The book contains more detail, but suffers from the same overwhelming guilt trip, as if to say that the very existence of modern Christianity is frought with -- by definition -- the blood of Jews and the threat of airborne nuclear destruction. Carroll has good points to make, and examination of the history of Christianity certainly must include unbiased looks at prejudice and the use of force, but to define the cross as an emblem of the sword and to use European history as a single-thread story of genocide points to a man who, from birth apparently, throws himself into intellectual pursuits uncritically then finds great disappointment when flaws are found in human endeavors. Maybe that's the risk one takes when one starts off as a Christian, particularly a Catholic, professional. The search for the Messiah will end in disappointment until you shake his hand or accept his humanity, but to take the U.S. Air Force, American Christianity, and Europe down with him into those despairing depths of faith crisis is a bit much. Carroll's scholarship is clearly one-sided and intended to prove his thesis, whatever that might be, but he earns his stars with depth and use of primary sources. Inside all the convoluted baggage are some real gems -- personal interviews, documents, statements, buildings, graves -- Carroll uncovers much of value in the history of the Christian religion from the first century through the Middle Ages to European pogroms and into the New World....more

This account of a wholesale cosmetic company's factory representative's business life in Southeast China (Guangdong Province) during the 1990s and 200This account of a wholesale cosmetic company's factory representative's business life in Southeast China (Guangdong Province) during the 1990s and 2000s is accurate, amusing and informative. This is the other China Syndrome -- the manner in which cost and quality are balanced in the world's factory. Blessed with guts, eloquence and a business education, Paul Midler describes in fascinating detail what really goes on inside the buildings where our shampoo and hand creams are made. Or ... he would describe what really goes on if he could have figured it out after many years of working and living there. Despite having degrees in Chinese and business administration, Paul concludes that there are three ways of looking at the Chinese supplier enigma -- and none of the three is good for the buyer....more

A combination of two earlier works dealing with Plains and Desert Indians entitled "Death on the Prairie" and "Death on the Desert," this pivotal, vitA combination of two earlier works dealing with Plains and Desert Indians entitled "Death on the Prairie" and "Death on the Desert," this pivotal, vital and vigorous book is on my "sacred book" shelf. Picked up for pennies by my father (RIP), this book struck me like a strong sentimental song, raising tears of anger....more

Written by a member of the first operational group to pass through Beckwith's training program after Delta beat out Blue Light as the US prime CT forcWritten by a member of the first operational group to pass through Beckwith's training program after Delta beat out Blue Light as the US prime CT force, you'll never quite get over exactly how these fellows prove their mettle and training effectiveness -- a final exam unlike anything your imagination could concoct. "That's not possible," you'll say to yourself. "Nobody would let them do that!" And the methods used to make that exam work are equally unreal. Let's just say it's life-threatening and performed in an instinctive fashion with pinpoint accuracy or you kill your friends. And then the players switch places, and they kill you if anything goes wrong. And then the process is repeated. Then repeated again. And again. Think what you like about the military (I'm a strong supporter), but you WILL respect these guys, and you will be glad they are on the side of a country with civilian control....more

If you study Asian history, this is a touchstone. By closely reading a good biography of Japan's most celebrated Samurai -- Miyamoto Musashi -- and byIf you study Asian history, this is a touchstone. By closely reading a good biography of Japan's most celebrated Samurai -- Miyamoto Musashi -- and by reading his own "Book of Five Rings," you will begin to glean some insight into the spirituality associated with Bushido, paradoxically by learning about the chaotic life of a rural runaway who sought conflict and killing, fought with psychological tricks and never lost a battle, even when facing dozens of foes at once. If you study Japan, study the Samurai. If you study the Samurai, study steelmaking and Musashi....more